Podcast Summary: De-Influenced with Dani + Jordan
Episode: Thanksgiving Re-Listen: I Blew Up My Life
Release Date: November 27, 2025
Hosts: Dani Austin & Jordan
Network: Dear Media
Episode Overview
This particularly raw and vulnerable episode revolves around Dani Austin’s decision to step back from her high-profile digital influencer life—what she and Jordan refer to as "blowing up her life." Dani walks listeners through her experience of hitting a crossroads in 2024: professional success was at its peak, but she felt emotionally empty, perpetually ill, and disconnected from herself, her faith, and her family. The couple reflect on how ambition, identity, and external expectations can become toxic, and how rediscovering their priorities—especially as parents—transformed their life, marriage, and sense of purpose. The conversation is intimate, candid, and full of actionable wisdom for creators, parents, and anyone rethinking the hustle mentality.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Opening Banter: Affirmation & Gender Stereotypes
- Dani and Jordan discuss the power of affirmation, especially for men.
- Funny anecdote about Dani complimenting their producer’s hair and workout results.
- Quote:
- "Guys just so crave this affirmation. I was like, danny, that man will remember this forever." – Jordan, [00:41]
2. Childhood Influences & Media Diets
- Jordan reminisces about growing up watching inappropriate movies and how parenting styles impact children.
- Contrasts his own upbringing (lots of freedom) vs. a friend’s (very restricted, leading to rebellion).
- Insight: “You really can't control how your kids are going to end up.” – Jordan, [04:11]
3. Setting the Stage: Why Dani "Blew Up" Her Life
- Dani starts opening up about why she took a social media break, despite massive career milestones in 2024.
- Achievements: Launched a scent line, multiple big product collaborations, Divi business growth, speaking at major events, Forbes list, and large giveaways—all while pregnant ([06:13]-[07:49]).
- Underlying Strain: High expectations and the pressure to excel were causing deteriorating mental health and dissatisfaction.
- Quote:
- "I'm so freaking hard on myself. The expectations I have on myself are brutal enough." – Dani, [07:52]
4. The Problem With Perpetual Hustle
- Dani explains how her relentless push for more (in career and validation) ultimately caused deep discontent and affected her family.
- Felt she was never enough: “…there was always something more. And I think it really started to affect my mental health as my kids got older…” – [08:36]
- Metaphor: Describes her life as “the hamster wheel.”
- Quote:
- "You were stuck. We called it internally, the hamster wheel." – Jordan, [11:44]
5. Physical and Mental Burnout
- Recounts a year of constant illness (10 months out of 12)—flu, Covid, and complications from pregnancy and postpartum. Refusal to slow down brought her to a breaking point.
- Quote:
- “I was always sick like this, but then I just wouldn't stop and I would just do more and more.” – Dani, [12:31]
- Quote:
6. Identity, Childhood Patterns & Social Media as Drug
- Dani delves into her childhood need for achievement as a means to be lovable and worthy, amplified by social media 'dopamine hits.'
- Deep disconnection from her “authentic self”—a concept borrowed from Dr. Gabor Maté.
- Felt responsibility for her 3 million followers outweighed attention to her three kids.
- Quote:
- “I prioritized the 3 million people over the 3 people now I have in my home, which are my kids.” – Dani, [17:39]
7. Radically Changing Course: The Break
- Dani describes consciously stepping away from the internet—and most people in her life—to focus on “inner healing.”
- Needed a dramatic, all-at-once change rather than incremental adjustments.
- Sat with uncomfortable questions about self-worth, contentment, and her values.
8. Rebuilding: Faith as Foundation
- Faith became her new anchor—intense immersion in prayer, scripture, and worship helped her find stability.
- Quote:
- “I have gone to insane lengths in my life to pursue my career … why am I not going to extreme lengths in my faith?” – Dani, [27:39]
- Quote:
9. Protecting Family & Redefining Success
- Solidifies non-negotiables around family time, self-care, and therapy/counseling, making those the ‘boulders’ of her schedule.
- Lesson: Letting go of relentless output brought unexpected professional blessings, too (Divi product awards, nominations, etc.).
10. Honest Talk on Creator Culture & Advice
- Calls out the unhealthy, inhumane pace of influencer culture:
- Encourages fellow creators to assess & write down the type of person they want to be—and to be ruthless about cutting out what isn’t serving them.
- "You would be shocked at how much you're gonna learn about yourself when you just stop. ... I lost millions of dollars in November … and I would do it all over again." – Dani, [60:16]
11. Practicing & Teaching Gratitude
- Both Dani and Jordan share how daily gratitude—listing three things each day—changed their perspective and helped them through the hardest times.
- “It doesn't take much ... it was never the big things I was grateful for... to be happy, I need my family and my kids, something active, and a cup of coffee.” – Jordan, [63:35]
12. Restored Purpose & Spiritual Realignment
- Dani shares feeling like a 'winner'—not because of achievement, but because she believes “God has already won.”
- Ultimate goal: Use her platform to serve others and her faith, not just her own ambition.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Men & Affirmation: "Guys just so crave this affirmation. I was like, danny, that man will remember this forever." – Jordan, [00:41]
- On Maternal Guilt: "I prioritized the 3 million people over the 3 people now I have in my home." – Dani, [17:39]
- On Hitting Rock Bottom: "When I tell you guys, like, my soul was dead inside ... I felt literally nothing." – Dani, [10:50]
- On Career Hustle: "You were stuck. We called it internally, the hamster wheel." – Jordan, [11:44]
- On Real Change: "I have gone to insane lengths in my life to pursue my career… why am I not going to extreme lengths in my faith?" – Dani, [27:39]
- On Letting Go: "The hardest thing for me was being okay with not being a hundred percent on my A game when it came to my career." – Dani, [49:37]
- On Professional Success 'Without Trying': "It really kind of almost allowed for you to take a step back and for God to be like, hey, I got you. Yeah, like, this is. This all isn't you." – Jordan, [51:24]
- Advice to Creators: "I'm not telling every creator to blow their life up, but I think you would be shocked at how much you're gonna learn about yourself...when you just stop." – Dani, [59:37-60:16]
- On Rebuilding: "Building it back was the fun part. Honestly, looking at my day and being like, all right, what book am I gonna read? What prayer am I gonna say?...that intentionality in my life has made a huge difference." – Dani, [61:59]
- On Gratitude as Healing: "Reflecting every day on three things that you're grateful for ... could actually change your life." – Dani, [65:48-66:40]
- On Spiritual Identity: "I feel like a winner ... I feel like God's telling me, like, hey, like, we already won. Like, calm down." – Dani, [71:00-72:19]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Affirmation & Opening Banter: [00:08–01:49]
- Upbringing & Parenting Reflections: [02:18–04:23]
- Why Dani Stepped Away: [05:34–10:50]
- The Hamster Wheel / Burnout: [11:44–12:19]
- Physical Burnout & Health: [12:31–13:42]
- Childhood Patterns & Social Media: [14:27–17:39]
- Blowing Up Her Life & The Break: [18:58–22:53]
- Faith & Reorientation: [27:39–33:45]
- Marriage, Family, and New Priorities: [42:21–46:17]
- How Success Came When She Let Go: [51:15–52:54]
- Advice for Creators/Influencers: [55:15–60:16]
- The Power of Gratitude: [65:48–67:10]
- Reflections on Identity: [71:00–72:20]
Takeaways for Listeners
- Ambition and “doing it all” comes at a price—especially for family, health, and self-esteem.
- Real change often requires drastic action and stepping into discomfort.
- Write down the person you want to be, set real boundaries, and don’t be afraid to disappoint the crowd if it means serving your true callings.
- Prioritize family and inner wellbeing over external validation.
- Simple gratitude practices can transform perspective—even in seasons of loss or chaos.
- Faith and authenticity are at the center of a healthier, more fulfilling life.
For anyone feeling stuck on the career 'hamster wheel,' battling parenting guilt, or struggling to step away from external validation, this episode brings hope, real strategies, and the reassurance that transformation is possible—even if it means blowing things up first.